What’s Your Blood Type?

I have used this forum to talk before about the concept of bio-individuality- that there is no one right way to eating for good health. ..the idea that food is absorbed and metabolized differently for each person. After all we are such complex beings! It’s really not just about calories in, calories out- each person has a formula that works for them, the trick is figuring out. The most successful health and weight loss stories are usually told by people who say they finally figured out what works for them.

One of the clues to your formula, may be your blood type. Dr. Peter D’Adamo has spent many years researching the connection between your blood type and the foods you seek. It can be pretty complex, but the simple version has to do with the connection between your blood type and food, based on a substance called “lectins”. Lectins are kind of like a glue that gets released into your cells when you eat. When you eat foods that are incompatible with your blood type, these lectins create an antigen and a reaction in your body occurs.

There are many aspects of this research but the one I find very interesting is blood type O. Type O is the oldest blood type, being the type of our ancestors over 40,000 years ago. For these early people, protein (meat and fish) was their fuel and it was abundant. As people started to roam the globe and meat was less abundant, they began to “gather” berries, fruits, etc and a new blood type was formed (type A).

Many times I run across people who just crave meat. No meal seems complete for them without it, and no effort on my part can convince them otherwise. I often come to find out that these people have blood type O. Lean meat and fish just seems to work best in their systems.

According to Dr. D’Adamo, stress reactions of type O’s go directly to the muscle tissue. Threats & stress cause high levels of chemicals to be pumped into the bloodstream, making type O’s very suited to vigorous physical exercise as well.

The book, Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type outlines the theory about blood types and their connection to weight loss, immunity and overall health. It is a very interesting concept and one worth learning about. It is just one more key in this fledgling science called nutrition, and it may help you to figure out the unique formula that works for you.

About Judith Katzman

Judith Katzman is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, receiving her training from Integrative Nutrition in partnership with Columbia University in NYC. She is the founder of Healthy Balancing Act Coaching Center whose mission it is to support people who want to achieve optimal health and happiness by making positive changes in nutrition and lifestyle. She offers workshops, group programs and counseling to individuals and families.

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About this Blog

Judith Katzman on how to combine nutritional counseling with a holistic or “whole life” approach to wellness.

About the Author

Judith Katzman is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor, receiving her training from Integrative Nutrition in partnership with Columbia University in NYC. She is the founder of Healthy Balance Coaching Center located in the offices of Range of Motion Physical Therapy in East Brunswick. Her mission it is to support people who want to achieve optimal health and happiness by making positive changes in nutrition and lifestyle. She offers workshops, group programs and counseling to individuals and families. Email Judith.